Property for Lansing casino has $1.24M price tag

AP PhotoThis artist rendering provided by the City of Lansing, Mich. shows the exterior of a $245 million American Indian casino proposed for downtown Lansing, Mich., is shown.

Property for a proposed casino in downtown Lansing could cost an Upper Peninsula Indian tribe $1.24 million.

The two-part land purchase between the city and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians could start this summer, the Lansing State Journal reported Saturday.

Details of the purchase were included in documents filed with the Lansing city clerk's office.

One parcel owned by the Lansing Economic Development Corp. would cost $280,000 and be the site for a temporary casino. The second and larger parcel would be where a permanent casino would be built. That parcel's price tag is $960,000.

"The idea has been to take a careful and well-considered approach for the entire project," city attorney Brig Smith said.

The tribe's board of directors voted earlier this week to move forward with the $245 million casino.

A casino would expand Lansing entertainment district, according to Mayor Virg Bernero.

Backers of the Kewadin Lansing Casino plan have said it could create about 1,500 permanent jobs and 700 construction jobs. The plan needs approval from the Interior Department.

The proposal has drawn opposition from other American Indian tribes that separately operate casinos in Mount Pleasant and near Battle Creek. Michigan has more than two dozen casinos, including three in Detroit.